Industry Demand & Engagement

The logistics industry has a strong presence in the three project areas of Chicago, Columbus, and Dayton. Considering the transportation and warehouse industry as a whole, there are over 293,000 jobs and 14,800 establishments in these three metropolitan areas. The three partner institutions have strong geographic positions to support this growing industry’s needs. These assets lead to a stable environment for logistics companies to both establish and grow, ultimately leading to job growth and a strong logistics industry presence in the local economies.

• Columbus: Ohio is located within 600 miles (one day’s drive) of 60 percent of U.S. and Canadian populations. Ohio also has the fourth-largest interstate system in the country. Columbus is home to Rickenbacker airport, the largest cargo-dedicated airport in the nation, which also serves as a dedicated foreign trade zone. Since 1918, the Defense Supply Center Columbus has operated as a total weapons systems management facility and acts as the defense logistics hub. DSSC manages over 2 million different items and accounts for more than $3 billion in annual sales.
• Chicago: Chicago houses O’Hare airport, the busiest in the U.S. Additionally, Chicago is the third-largest intermodal port in the world. Illinois has the third-largest interstate highway system in the nation, and it’s the only state with all seven Class I freight railroads. The Norfolk railroad runs from Columbus to Chicago.
• Dayton: Located at the crossroads of Interstate 75 and 70, the Dayton region employs 18 percent of total Ohio logistics industry jobs and accounts for over $3.7 billion in sales for the industry. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located in Dayton, is headquarters for a vast, worldwide logistics system, a world-class laboratory research function, and is the foremost acquisition and development center in the U.S. Air Force.

Employment opportunities for logistics engineering technicians will remain strong and offer an attractive wage. Considering only targeted occupations for logistics engineering technicians, the next 10 years will see healthy growth. The total number of jobs in these occupations across Chicago, Columbus, and Dayton areas will reach almost 150,000 by 2027, with more than 40,000 employment opportunities. The median hourly earnings for these occupations today average $42 across the three metropolitan areas, according to EMSI.

Job openings and target occupations for logistics engineering technicians will become increasingly dependent on information technology skills and roles. Unlike the existing National Center for Supply Chain Technology Education, whose focus is current occupations, the COMPLETE program is also designed to meet this future demand. The Council for Supply Chain Management states, “The next-generation supply chain will enhance fulfillment capabilities and drive efficiencies through technologies ranging from big data and predictive analytics to artificial intelligence and robotics.”